Illustration: Tiffany Herring/Axios
The Senate passed the ADVANCE Act this evening, sending one of this year's biggest energy bills to President Biden's desk for an expected signature.
Why it matters: The overhaul of Nuclear Regulatory Commission policies could expedite deployment of advanced and small modular nuclear reactors.
Driving the news: Senators passed the bill, attached to separate fire safety legislation, in a 88-2 vote.
- Progressives and some environmentalists raised concerns about safety and a change to the NRC's mission statement that they fear could undermine the regulator.
- Sen. Ed Markey, who spoke against the bill on the floor, and Sen. Bernie Sanders cast "no" votes. A number of other progressives voted in support.
Zoom in: Other important policies in ADVANCE include a reduction of licensing fees and provisions to cut down review times for previously licensed designs and trim timelines for nuclear NEPA reviews.
